Vacuum breaker



H. J. LUFF VACUUM BREAKER June 23, 1936.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 11, 1935 FlGr-Z FIG.- I

INVENTOR v HENRY J. LUFF Mg a? ATTO E16 H. J. LUFF VACUUM BREAKER June 23, 1936.

Filed Nov. 11, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

FIG-8 1 INVENTOR HENRY J. LUFF TTORNEY? Patented June 2 3, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE" Application November 11, 1935, Serial No. 49,120

11 Claim.

This invention relates to vacuum breakers for plumbing applications, such as for disposition inthe flush water supply line of a closet or like plumbing fixture, between the fixture and its flush valve means eifective thereabove in the line, to prevent back siphonage of waste water into the flush water supply line should a vacuum occur in the line. Y

The invention comprises generally improvements in the vacuum breaker disclosed in my Patent .No. 2,023,178, issued December 3, 1935, and having an auxiliary passage for flush water vented for breaking the vacuum. Particular objects of this invention are to provide such a device wherein the auxiliary passage is adjustable and without disassembly of the parts, and wherein the action of the auxfliary streamis observable under operating conditions and while the adjustment is being made, and more silently operates, with cleaning effect. I

Another object is to provide an assembly wherein a few parts of selected sizes may be combined with other standard parts to adapt the device for any particular operating condition.

Still another object is to provide that the device be compact, particularly in transversev dimen sions, and of unobtrusive appearanceand be ca-. pable of convenient application to any preexisting installation.

The exact nature of I this invention together.

with further objects and advantages thereof will be apparent from the-following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a somewhat conventionalized assembly view partly in section, showing an incated by the line 2-2, Fig. 3;- Fig. 4 is a view showing parts correspondingto those appearing in Fig. 2 but of different size for different operating conditions; Fig. 5 is a view similar -to Fig. 2 but showing a modified form of the device, Figs.

6 and? are transverse sections thereof as in the p providing its longitudinal adjustment because of planes of lines 6-45 and respectively, the plane of Fig. 5 being indicated by the line 5-5, Fig. 6, and Fig. 8 is a typical longitudinal section showing still another form of the device.

With reference now to the drawings and first to Figs. 1 to 4 thereof, the vacuum breaker generally indicated at I, Fig. 1, is shown as installed flow through the vacuum breaker l is downward;

the fixture B being served by the waste line D.

The vacuum breaker comprises pipe meansl having at its upper end an outwardly extending flange 2a and an inwardly extending nipple 2b, 5 internally threaded as indicated. The arrangement is such that the pipe means may be connected with the outlet of the flush valve C by a collar 3 having an inwardly extending flange 3a,

a head 3b and threaded as at 30 to be turned upon the flush valve by a wrench, the usual gasket 4 being employed between the flange 2a of the pipe means and the end of the flush valve housing. 7 1

A nozzle generally indicated at 5 and providinga through passage a, is mounted in the upper end of the pipe means 2, having a supporting flange part 5a, externally threaded and turned into the threads of the nipple 2b. The upper extremity of the nozzle is outwardly flared as at 33 5b to overlie the shoulder providedby the nipple 2b but clear the outlet of the flush valve 0, and

thus provide a'cylindrical annular clearance b.

The end of the nipple 2b is preferably conically finished to correspond with the funnel part 51; 25 of the nozzle and provide a conical annular clearance c. The nozzle has an outlet mouth part 50 extending downwardly within the pipe means 2 as indicated and preferably of seamless sheet metal permanently secured to thefunnel 30 part 5b of the nozzle, which may be a casting as indicated. The flange part 5a of the nozzle has perforationsd closely adjacent the mouth part 50 of the nozzle.

It will be apparent that the arrangement described provides a central through main passage a for flush water, and thereabout an auxiliary passage including the annular clearances b and c and the perforations d, flushing flow in the auxiliary passage being distributed smoothly over the 40 outer surface of the nozzle mouth part 50.

It will also be apparent that flushing flow through the auxiliary passage may be varied by rotative adjustment of the nozzle to adjust the clearance c; rotative adjustment of the nozzle 45 its threaded engagement with the nipple part 212 of the pipe means. I

That flushing flow in the central main passage a may assist in inducing confluence in the auxll- 50 iary passage, a. Venturi restriction 6 is located in. the pipe means 2 in suitable relation to the mouth end of the nozzle means whereby an injector efiect is had during-the flushing operation.

. The pipe means 2 is provided with a number of lateral openings 20 adjacent its nipple part 2b by which the auxiliary passage is vented to the atmosphere. These vent openings are preferably of substantialsize as indicated, by which flow through the auxiliary .passage and operating conditions within the latter may be conveniently ob- For protection of the vent openings from dust and the like, and for their concealment, and for promoting silence of operation, a skirt I is arranged to overhang the vent openings in spaced relation therewith. This skirt I is threadedly mounted on the collar 3 as indicated to turn against its head. part 1b, so that it may be easily detached and lowered from the collar but without further removal from the assembly, to provide free access to the vent openings 20.

It twill be understood that in an installation the Venturi restriction 6 and particularly the mouth of the nozzle means 5 will be located substantially above the overflow level of the flxture served. Normal-flushing operation will then'be as follows. when the valve is opened most of the flushing water will move downwardly through,

the main passage (1 in the nozzle. Some of the water, however, will flow through the auxiliary passage and smoothly over the outer surface of the nozzle means, washing the auxiliary passage walls of any accumulations thereon. The main stream will have injector eil'ect upon the auxiliary stream so that the latter will flow downwardly to the fixture although the auxiliary passage is freely vented to the atmosphere. The

auxiliary stream, being of smoothly flowing annular form, will rejoin the main stream with a minimum of turbulence and will tend to prevent influx of air to the fixture and hence promote silence of operation] A Should a vacuum suddenly occur in the supply line A during flushing operation and with overflow conditions in the fixture-which is the worst condition to be met-the inertia eflect of the water .within the nozzle will continue its downward course therethrough but air will 'immediately be drawn upwardly through the vent openings and the auxiliary passage thereabove,

adjustment to attain the proper auxiliary passage flow maybe made as already described.

Proper adjustment of the auxiliary passage will depend somewhat upon the amount of vacuum which has possibility of occurrence. where the flxture is at a high elevation relative to its water supply, a high vacuum might be anticipated. On the other hand available water' pressures vary greatly in difierent localities. Where the water pressure is high, nozzle-means providing amain passage of smaller diameter, and a correspondingly greater Venturi restriction, may be provided as by substituting the parts the exception of the nozzle means.

Thus

' and 8' as shown in Fig. 4, for the parts appearing in Fig. 2 without varying the other parts of the assembly. the selection of proper sizes of nozzle and Venturi parts being made with previous knowledge of the installation conditions. Notwithstanding the flow conditions provided through the nozzle means by its fixed size, the relative flow through the auxiliary passage may be made to suitably correspondby the described adjustment of the nozzle means in the assembly.

With reference now to the modification of Figs. 5 to '7 inclusive, parts will be observed as identical with those disclosed in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, with Such identical parts-therefore bear corresponding reference characters.

,The nozzle means in this construction is built up of a number of parts. As respects the main central passage 4;, it is of funnel shape having a flared part 50b overlying the nipple 2b and an elongated mouth part 500 leading downwardly to the Ventufiflirgstriction. The flange part 500. which is threadedinto the nipple 2b for adjustable support of the nozzle means, has a conical upper face as indicated in Fig. 5, corresponding to the under face of the part 50b. The latter is supported on this flange part 50a. by a number of blocks We, each of generally prismatic form as indicated in Figs. 5 and 6, and permanently secured to the nozzle parts which they interconnect, the part 50b having anannular shoulder 50 receiving the corner parts of the blocks Me for centering between the parts 50b and 50a. In order to assure smooth non-turbulent flow of flushing water entirely about and along the,

outer face of the upper end of the part 500, a short cylinder 509 is concentrically secured to the part "a.

Secured upon the part We below the cylinder 509, as by the threads illustrated or other wise, is a deflector 50h having its upper end bevelled as indicated, to 'throw the auxiliary stream radially outwardly against the inner'surface of the pipe 2. The'resultant radial pass of the auxiliary stream tends to prevent influx of air to the main stream in the normal flushing operation, and also washes the pipe clear ofany accumulations.

Preferably the end of the cylinder 509 is bevelled correspondingly with the deflector h, so that the latter may have adjustment on the member illc to control outflow from the passage h. A look nut as illustrated is provided for maintainingthe adjusted position of the deflector, both deflector and lock nut having peripheral deformities providing for their adjustment by a tool inserted through the vent openings 20. Where the deflector SM is provided, the parts 2b and "a may be integral with each other ,and

the auxiliary stream controlled wholly by the relation between the deflector 5071. and the cylinder-Illa; or the deflector may beomitted and adjustment of the auxiliary stream had as here- Thus the passage for auxiliary flushing water inai'ter described.

includes the cylindrical annular clearance f,

the conical annular clearance g, the conical space between the blocks We, and the cylindrical annulus h, immediately about the upper end of the nozzle part 500 thence downwardly smoothly over this nozzle part, and outwardly against the-pipe 2. The length of the cylinder 50a is Just suflicient to insure a smooth flowing annular stream, and is short enough so that such stream may be observed through the vent openings 2c.

For adjustment of the nozzle means, a number of pins 5041 are set into the part 50a projecting downwardly therefrom as indicated in Fig. 5 for accessibility for adjusting the nozzle means withoutobstructing view of the auxiliary stream of flushing water. These pins 50d are spaced about the nozzle means as indicated in Fig. '7, and preferably the number of pins 5011 is diiferent from the number of vent openings 20, so that a finer adjustment may be more easily had.

It will be appreciated that;all of the describe parts of the nozzle means are intended for permanent interconnection in the nozzle assembly as by soldering, brazing or the like, so that the nozzle means may be handled. as a unit in making the installation, and thereafter adjusted as 'a unit Figs. 5, -6, and '7 in the following respects.

The nozzle parts 60a and 60b are maintained in their longitudinally spaced relation, to provide relatively unobstructed passageway therebetween, by pins 60d spaced about thenozzle axis and soldered to the parts as indicated or otherwise rigidly secured therewith; The pins 60d extend downwardly below the part 60a to perform the functions of the pins 50d, Fig. 5.

The tubular part 60;] is downwardly coextensive with the nozzle part 600 to provide annular outlet from the auxiliary passage, adjacent and parallel'to the outlet of the main passage a, whereby main and auxiliary passages deliver substantially a unitary stream to the Venturi throat, the outer part of which stream, however, being of lower velocity than the inner part due to the, restriction of the auxiliary passage.

The arrangement of Fig. 8 permits convenient andaccurate assembly of the nozzle parts, and

promotes silence of operation.

' While several embodiments of my invention are herein disclosed, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. For example, while the vacuum breaker is herein illustrated as inserted in a flush water supply line as a separate unit between a plumbing fixture and its flush valve 'in the line, the breaker mightbe associated with the valve as a dual purpose unit, with integral common parts, without departing from the invention. Y

. Also, the pipemeans referred to herein, regardless of the number of parts of which it is composed, may be considered within the scope of this invention, as a single unit, performing the functions of communicating between its inlet and outlet, enclosing the nmzle means and the two passages provided thereby, and being provided with vent means for the auxiliary passage.

What I claim is:

1. A vacuum breaker adapted to be disposed in the flush water supply line of a closet or like plumbing fixture and comprising pipe means adapted for disposition between the fixture and its flush valve in said line, said pipe means havhaving an opening located to vent said auxiliary passage. w

2. A vacuum breakeradapted to be disposed in the flush water supply line of a. closet or like plumbing fixture and comprising lpipe means 5 adapted for disposition between the fixture and .its flush valve in said line, said pipe means having an annular shoulder, nozzle means having a perforate supporting flange part in threaded relation with said pipe means below said shoulder, a 10 part clearing said pipe means and longitudinally spaced from said shoulder-to provide an annular orifice, and a part extending therebelow to provide 'an annular auxiliary passage within said pipe means controlled by said orifice, said pipe means 5 having vent'mea'n's for said auxiliary passage and said nozzle means having deformations located to permit .rotative adjustment of said nozzle means by a tool inserted through said vent means.

3. A vacuum breaker adapted to be disposed in the hush water supply line of a closet or like plumbing fixture, and. comprising pipe means adapted for disposition between the fixture and its flush v'alve in said line, nozzle means disposed in said pipe means to provide. a central main passage for flushing waterrwith an auxiliary passage thereabout, said pipe means having an opening for venting said auxiliary passage, means providing for adjusting relative flow of flushing water in said passages by a tool inserted through said opening,-and skirt means arranged to overhang said opening and -detachably mounted to permit'access to the latter without disturbance of other parts of said breaker.

4. A vacuum breaker adaptedto be disposed in the flush water supply line of a closet or like plumbing fixture and comprising pipe means adapted for disposition between the fixture and its fiush valve in said line, said pipe means having an annular shoulder, nozzle means having a 40 perforate supporting flange part in threaded relation with said pipe means below said shoulder, a part clearing said pipe means and longitudinally spaced from said shoulder to provide an annular orifice, and an elongated part extending therebelow to provide an annular auxiliary passage within said pipe means and controlled by said orifice, means providinga smooth stream of flushing water over and about the. outer surface of said elongated nozzle part, with an air space about said stream and within said pipe means, said pipe means having vent means for said air space and located to provide observation of theaction 0 said stream.

.5. A vacuum breaker adapted to be disposed in the flush water supply line of a closet or-like plumbing fixture and comprising pipe means adapted for disposition between the fixture and. its flush valve in said line, said pipe means having an annular shoulder, nozzle means having a per- :forate supporting flange part in threaded relation with said pipe means below said shoulder, a part clearing said pipe means and longitudinally spaced. from said shoulder to provide an annular orifice, and a part extending therebelow to provide an annular auxiliary passagewithin said pipe means controlled by said orifice, said pipe means having vent means for said auxiliarypassage and said nozzle means having deformations located to permit rotative adjustment'of said nozzle means by atool inserted through said vent means, said deformations comprising circumferentiallyspa'ced pins set into saidnozzle means opposite said vent means.

6. a "vacuum breaker adapted tobe'disposed in the flush water supply line of a closet or like plumbing fixture, and comprising .pipe means adapted for disposition between the fixture and its flush valve insaid line, nozzle means disposed in said pipe means, having a pair of passages in parallel relation one about the other with adjacent unrestricted outlets, said pipe means providing a substantial space about said passages and freely communicating with their said outlets, said pipe means having a vent for said space, upwardly removed from said outlets.

said pipe means to provide a central main passage for flushing water, a space about said passage, and a relatively small auxiliary stream of flushing water through said space and along the outer surface of said nozzle means, said pipe means being so proportioned, relative to said nozzle means, as to provide substantial radial dimension for said space, and having a vent opening therefor adjacent the upper end thereof, and said nozzle means having means for projecting said auxiliary stream radially through said space, and against the inner surface of said pipe means immediately below said vent means, said vent opening being laterally located to make the projected auxiliary stream visible therethrough.

8. A vacuum breaker adapted to be disposed in the flush water supply line of a closet or like plumbing fixture, and comprising pipe means adapted for disposltionbetween the fixture and its flush valve in said line, and nozzle means dis- P therebetween, and means providing for adjustment of one of said confining'portions relative to the other to control flow through said auxiliary passage, said pipe means having vent' means for said auxiliary passage.

9. A vacuum breaker adapted to be disposed in the flush water supply line of a closet orlike plumbing fixture, and comprising P p means adapted for disposition between the fixture and its fiush valve in said line, and nozzle means disposed within said pipe means to providea, main passage for flushing water and an auxiliary passage in parallel relation to said main passage and distributed thereabout, said pipe means and said nozzle means having portions disposed in spaced relation and {confining said auxiliary passage therebetweem'and means providing a threaded relation between said pipe means andsaid nozzle means whereby, one of said confining portions control fiowthrough said auxiliary passage, said pipe' meansv having .vent means for said auxiliary passage.

10. A vacuum breaker adapted to be disposed in the flush water supply line of a closet or like plumbing fixture, and comprising pipe means adapted for disposition between the fixture, and its flush valve in said line, and nozzle means disposed within said pipe means to provide a main passage for flushing water and an auxiliary'passage in parallel relation to said main passage and distributed thereabout, said pipe means and said nozzle means having portions disposed in longitudinally spaced relation and confining said auxiliary passage therebetween, and having portions in threaded relation whereby said confining portion of said nozzle means may have adjustment to control flow through said auxiliary passage, said pipe means havingyent means for said auxiliary passage, and located to permit observation of fiow through said auxiliary passage, and access to said nozzle means for adjustment of the latter upon its threads.

11. A vacuum breaker adapted to be disposed in the flush water supply line of a closet or like plumbing fixture, and comprising pipe means adapted for disposition between the .fixture andits fiush valve in said line, nozzie means disposed in said pipemeans'to provide a main passage for flushing water, and an auxiliary passage in parallel relation to said main passage, means movably mounted Ioryariably restricting fiow 0t flushing water in said auxiliary passage, said pipe means having an opening venting said auxiliary passage.

HENRY LU'B'E. 

